Uniformed density caseless cartridge



Oct. 10, 1967 J. B. QUINLAN ET AL UNIFORMED DENSITY CASELESS CARTRIDGE Filed Aug. 5, 1965 mm? A. WW

Wmmxm dklllfilllll mammmw V5 TORS'. Joseph B. in IOhk. I. Scanlomfr W W401 M 1 Q 2 I ATTORNEYS 3,345,945 UNIFORMED DENSITY CASELESS CARTRIDGE Joseph B. Quinlan, Philadelphia, Pa., and John J. Scanlon, Jr., Willingboro, N ..l., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Aug. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 477,044 Claims. (Cl. 10238) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A uniformly molded caseless cartridge having separately molded and primed plugs which have at least one primer pocket isolated from the firing pin to allow sufficient primer composition to ignite said plug while preventing the exposure of the firing pin to an excessive amount of the primer composition.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

The invention relates to a uniform density molded caseless cartridge and more particularly to a uniformed density molded caseless cartridge utilizing a separate primer plug.

In the past, caseless cartridges have been made by molding a single unit of granular propellant and providing therein an axial cavity for ballistic control. An example of this type of cartridge is shown in patent application Ser. No. 343,904, filed Feb. 10, 1964, now Patent No. 3,212,440, by Joseph B. Quinlan et al. entitled, Caseless Small Arms Ammunition. In this type of cartridge the axial cavity did not extend all the way through the molded propellant but left a solid portion at the rear thereof. A pocket was provided in this solid portion for the purpose of providing a primer therein.

Because of the irregular density of this cartridge, complete decomposition of the molded propellant did not always occur.

Because of the location of the primer mix in the immediate area of the firing pin, it has been found that solid decomposition, products have been left on the firing pin accounting for the short life thereof. There has also been a problem as to the danger of accident when priming because this operation has been done right on the cartridge.

This invention solves all these aforementioned problems by providing for the separate priming of a propellant plug which is inserted in the cartridge after priming thereby eliminating accident problem. The amount of primer mix in the rear of the plug has been reduced thereby reducing the amount of solid decomposition products left on the firing pin and bolt face. The cartridge itself has been molded as a single hollow cylinder thereby providing for uniform density throughout.

The fact that the priming operation is performed in an area separate from the molding operation not only reduces the safety hazard but also increases the production of the cartridge since both operations can now be done at the same time by different people.

Therefore, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved molded caseless cartridge of uniform density.

Another object is the provision of a molded caseless cartridge which has fewer solid decomposition products.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a nited States Patent 0 molded caseless cartridge which is more safely and quickly fabricated.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a molded caseless cartridge having increased strength.

The above objects as well as others together with the benefits and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon reference to the detailed description set forth below, particularly when taken in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional longitudinal view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional longitudinal view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional longitudinal view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a caseless cartridge 10 consisting of a tubular molded propellant 12 having at the forward end, a projectile 14, and at the rearward or base end a combustible primer plug 16. The primer plug 16 has at its rearward end, a pocket 18 and at is forward end, a second pocket 20.

In preparation of a 7.62 mm. caseless cartridge, a 1% inch cylinder of molded propellant granules is made by the incremental addition of the granules and collodian (modified) to a mold and then pressing the mixture at about 3500 p.s.i. after the projectile, axial cavity and plug punches have been inserted. The propellant cylinder is dried at 120 F. for 8 to 10 hours before it is machined to the desired geometry and charge weight.

The primed propellant plug is made in the same manner and when dried primer or ignition pellets or charges are inserted in the pocket 18 and sealed With a small disc. A supplemental charge of similar composition is inserted into pocket 20.

The primed plug and projectile are both cemented to the tapered and necked propellant cylinder to form a complete cartridge of primed plug caseless ammunition.

The second embodiment from the present invention is similar to the above described cartridge and is indicated generally by the reference numeral 100. Said cartridge is constructed of a tubular molded propellant 102 having at the forward end an adhesively secured projectile 104 and at the rearward or base end, an adhesively secured combustible primer plug 106. Said primer plug 106 contains /2 of the ignition charge in pocket 108 and serves as a means of percussion ignition. A supplemental plug 110 of similar composition is located at the neck portion 112 of the tubular propellant 102 acting as a support for the projectile 104 while reinforcing said neck portion at the same time. The plug 110 contains the remainder of the ignition charge in a pocket 114 thereby acting as a booster charge.

The supplemental plug 110 affords proper seating of the projectile 104 and increased strength at the neck portion 112 and thereby assuring a more accurate firing.

The third embodiment shown a similar caseless cartridge indicated generally by reference numeral 200. Said cartridge 200 is constructed of a tubular molded propellant 202 having at its forward end an adhesively secured projectile 204. A long combustible primer plug 206 extends for the rearward or base end of the tubular molded propellant 202 to the base of the projectile 204. An axial cavity 208 for controlling charge weight is provided in the center upper portion of the long plug 206 formed by an axial web in the lower portion of said plug. A first pocket 210 is provided in the base of the plug 206 and a second pocket 212 is provided in the base of the axial cavity 208. Said first pocket contains a primer composition and said second pocket contains a supplemental ignition composition of similar composition as said primer compostion.

The primer plug 206 being of this construction insures proper seating of the projectile 204 and provides increased strength along the entire length of the tubular molded propellant.

Having thus described the invention so that others skilled in the art may be able to understand and practice the same, what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is defined in what is claimed.

I claim:

1. A uniform density molded caseless cartridge comprising a tubular molded propellant having a tapered external neck portion at a forward end and a base portion at a rearward end,

a projectile secured in said cartridge at said neck portion,

a combustible primer plug secured within said cartridge at said base portion, said primer plug having end portions,

a pocket in each of said end portions,

and a charge in each of said pockets.

2. A uniform density molded caseless cartridge com prising a tubular molded propellant having a tapered eX- ternal neck portion at a forward end and a base portion at a rearward end,

a projectile secured in said cartridge at said neck portion,

a combustible primer plug secured Within said cartridge at said base portion, said primer plug having end portions,

a first pocket in one of said end portions,

and an ignition charge in said first pocket,

a second pocket in the other of said end portions,

and a supplemental charge in said second pocket.

3. A uniform density molded caseless cartridge comprising a tubular molded propellant having a tapered external neck portion at a forward end and a base portion at a rearward end,

a projectile secured in said cartridge at said neck portion,

a combustible primer plug secured within said cartridge and said base portion, said primer plug having end portions,

and a pocket in a rearward portion thereof,

an ignition charge in said pocket,

a supplemental combustible plug secured within said cartridge at said neck portion, said supplemental plug having end portions,

a pocket in a rearward portion thereof,

and a supplemental charge in said pocket.

4. A uniform density molded caseless cartridge comprising a tubular molded propellant having a tapered external neck portion at a forward end and a base portion at a rearward end,

a projectile secured in said cartridge at said end portion,

a combustible primer plug secured within said cartridge at said base portion, said primer plug having forward and rearward end portions,

said primer plug extending from said base portion of said tubular molded propellant to the base of said projectile and having an axial cavity in said forward end portion thereof,

a pocket in said rearward end portion,

an ignition charge in said pocket,

and a supplemental charge partially filling said axial cavity.

5. A uniform density molded caseless cartridge comprising a tubular molded propellant having a tapered external neck portion at a forward end and a base portion at a rearward end,

a projectile secured in said cartridge at said neck portion,

a combustible primer plug secured within said cartridge and said base portion, said primer plug having forward and rearward end portions,

said primer plug extending from said base portion of said tubular molded propellant to the base of said projectile,

an axial web in the rearward end portion of said primer plug whereby an axial cavity is defined between said plug and said projectile,

a pocket at said rearward end portion,

and an ignition charge in said pocket,

a second pocket in said axial Web,

and a supplemental charge in said second pocket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1889 Bayliss 102-45 9/1920 Thompson 10238 X 4/1932 Blacker 10238 X 11/1961 Johnson 102-38 X 12/1963 Harvey et al 102-38 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1891 Great Britain. 1889 Great Britain. 1928 Germany. 

1. A UNIFORM DENSITY MOLDED CASELESS CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A TUBULAR MOLDED PROPELLANT HAVING A TAPERED EXTERNAL NECK PORTION AT A FORWARD END AND A BASE PORTION AT A REARWARD END, A PROJECTILE SECURED IN SAID CARTRIDGE AT SAID NECK PORTION, A COMBUSTIBLE PRIMER PLUG SECURED WITHIN SAID CARTRIDGE AT SAID BASE PORTION, SAID PRIMER PLUG HAVING END PORTIONS, A POCKET IN EACH OF SAID END PORTIONS, AND A CHARGE IN EACH OF SAID POCKETS. 